SENATOBIA - Surrounded by the smell of barbecue, the sound of blues music and a conference doubleheader against Copiah-Lincoln, Northwest celebrated a special occasion on Saturday afternoon, honoring Mark Carson as the program's all-time winningest coach.

Carson earned his 557th career win earlier in the week at Mississippi Delta, and chalked up his 558th victory with the sweep of the Trojans. The previous all-time wins record was previously held by Northwest Sports Hall of Famer Jim Miles, who collected 556 victories during his head coaching tenure from 1976-97.

In a pregame ceremony, Carson was presented with a commemorative bat from Miles (his former coach), as well as Northwest President Dr. Michael J. Heindl, former Northwest baseball coach Donny Castle and Northwest athletic director Jake Gordon.

Additionally, members of the 1996 Rangers' NJCAA Division II World Series were also welcomed back to throw out the first pitch. Coached by Miles, the 1996 team is one of three in program history to make the NJCAA World Series, joining the 1997 and 2007 squads.

As for the games, Northwest garnered a split with Co-Lin, dropping a 9-8 loss before recovering for a 10-9 victory. The Rangers fell behind 4-0 in the first inning of the opener, before fighting back to eventually take a lead, only for the Wolves to rally back for the win.

In the nightcap, the Rangers led 4-0 until surrendering five runs in the top of the fourth. Northwest trailed 8-4, until a five-run frame in the bottom of the sixth allowed the Rangers to regain a 9-8 lead. Co-Lin tied the game in the top of the seventh, but NWCC loaded the bases and brought in the winning run on a walk.

With the win, the Rangers moved to 20-9 on the season and 3-5 in the MACCC, while the Wolves dropped to 21-12 overall and 5-3 inside the conference. Northwest will welcome No. 24 Holmes on Wednesday, March 26, for a 3/6 P.M. doubleheader. The Bulldogs (20-9, 3-5 MACCC) enter this week's matchup on a five-game losing streak, after dropping a pair of 16-1 and 10-3 losses against No. 1 Pearl River over the weekend. 

Both games will be carried on Ranger TV.


Game 1 - Copiah-Lincoln 9, Northwest 8

Despite a disastrous first inning that resuled in four Co-Lin runs, Northwest battled back with a seven-run frame in the fifth, only to fall in a close 9-8 decision to the Wolves.

Trey Davidson stole second base, allowing a distraction for Lucas Harrington to score from third, giving Co-Lin an early 1-0 lead in the first. The Wolves then tacked on more runs with a two-run homer from Caleb Brooks and an RBI-triple from Bradley Hanlon.

Northwest pitcher Gavin McCoy recovered well after the first inning, keeping Co-Lin off the board for the remainder of his seven-inning start. Meanwhile, the Rangers finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs and taking a 7-4 lead.

A bases-loaded balk allowed Walker Maranto to score the first run of the game for Northwest and a wild pitch on a walk to Mason Gillentine allowed Jackson Jenkins to cross the plate. Levi Lang was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and a bases-loaded walk to Walker Sanders tied the game.

Meyer Maddox then helped the Rangers take the lead with a two-run single to left center and Maranto's double to center field plated the final run of the inning for Northwest. A wild pitch in the sixth allowed Gillentine to score from third, stretching the lead to 8-4.

However, things began to unravel once more in the eighth inning, as Co-Lin used an RBI-single from Brady White and a bases-loaded walk to Avery Griffin to pull within two runs. Reise Thomas then allowed Hanlon to score with a groundout to third base, bringing the Wolves back within 8-7.

In the top of the ninth, Brooks made the Rangers pay with a two-run homer to left field, his second of the game. Northwest tried to stage a rally in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases on a walk to Maddox, an error in Sullivan's at-bat and a walk to Jenkins. 

With the tying run at third and two outs on the board, the Rangers were unable to extend the game, as Nash Sturdivant entered the game in relief, forcing a flyout to left field, ending the game in favor of the Wolves.

Co-Lin collected 15 base hits in the win, while Northwest was held to just seven. McMillin went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double to lead the Rangers' efforts, while Brooks, Davidson and Evan Holifield accounted for three base hits apiece for the Wolves.

McCoy struck out two batters against a walk and five earned runs in seven complete frames, receiving the no-decision. Brennan Jones (1-2) pitched the final two innings in relief, taking the loss for Northwest. The sophomore from Madison allowed a walk and two earned runs, while Will Howell gave up a pair of walks and an earned run in a brief relief appearance.

Co-Lin used four pitchers, starting with 4.1 innings from Cameron Patterson, who finished with three strikeouts against four walks and four earned runs. Harrington (1-1) earned the win in relief, striking out two batters against two walks and an earned run in three complete innings, while Sturdivant earned his fourth save of the season.


Game 2 - Northwest 10, Copiah-Lincoln 9

A back-and-forth contest went in favor of Northwest in the finale on Saturday night, as McMillin drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the winning run for the Rangers.

Unlike the opener, it was Northwest starting off on the right note in the nightcap, as a bases-loaded walk to John Whit Snopek and a wild pitch brought in two runs for the Rangers in the first inning. Lang then blasted a home run to left-center in the third, stretching the lead to 3-0.

Lake Reed then provided an additional run in the same inning for Northwest, using a single to left field to score Snopek, giving the Rangers a 4-0 advantage.

However, Co-Lin responded with a five-run frame in the top of the fourth, as several wild pitches and a two-run single from Davidson gave the Wolves a sudden 5-4 advantage.

White added a single to left field in the fifth and a passed ball in the sixth helped Co-Lin stretch its lead to 7-4. Davidson's single to right field followed, allowing Tucker Jones to score on an error, giving the Wolves an 8-4 advantage.

Northwest rallied back in the bottom of the sixth inning, using a two-run single from Lang and a two-run homer from Sullivan to tie the game. Maranto then singled to center, scoring Snopek for the go-ahead run.

However, the Rangers gave up a leadoff walk to Holifield in the top of the seventh, and he advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. Sam Cook then scored Holifield on a single to right field, tying the game at 9-9.

Determined not to let the game continue into extra innings, Northwest got back-to-back leadoff base hits from Jackson Jenkins and Hallas Lawson, and an error allowed both players to advance into scoring position. That's when Gillentine was intentionally walked to load the bases, and McMillin was issued the walk, allowing Jenkins to score the walk-off run.

Both teams combined for 19 base hits in the nightcap, with the Rangers accounting for 10 base hits. Jenkins, Lang and Maranto combined for six base hits, and homers from Lang and Sullivan highlighted the batting efforts for Northwest.

A total of nine pitchers were used across the board, with Eli Deberry (3-0) earning the win in relief for the Rangers. The Arlington, Tenn. native struck out two batters and allowed no walks or runs in one complete inning. Brady Stinnett started the game for Northwest, throwing over 100 pitches in five complete frames, striking out seven batters against five walks and two earned runs.

Jace Robinson and Gideon Deaton also made relief appearances for the Rangers, with Robinson issuing a strikeout against a walk and two earned runs in his lone inning on the mound. 

Co-Lin used five pitchers, with Jacob Buffalo proving to be the most effective for the Wolves. Buffalo tossed 2.1 frames of relief with three strikeouts, three walks and two earned runs, while Dee Morgan started the first 2.2 frames, striking out two batters against five walks and four earned runs.

After earning the save in the opener, Sturdivant (2-1) tried for similar luck in the seventh inning, but instead took the loss after allowing four earned runs and a walk. Darrin Robbins and Carter Leggett also made appearances in the seventh, but neither pitcher was able to record an out. Read Full Article